Visions of the Future: Microplush Throw Grand Tour

EXPERIENCE THE CHARM OF GRAVITY ASSISTS

Once every 175 years the outer planets of our solar system (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) line up just so – in a way that allows us to use each planet’s gravity to travel to the next. And that’s just what the Voyager mission did, in the process obtaining some spectacular views of the outer planets in the process.

So if you’re not planning to be around in the 2150s with Captain Jonathan Archer, the Daleks, et al. for the next one, you can still curl up here on Earth and enjoy the concept. Celebrate The Grand Tour from the comfort of your couch. Created by the “Exoplanet Travel Bureau” (aka NASA’s visual strategists), this great faux retro futurism travel poster has been turned into a plush fleece throw. We don’t mean to brag, but it IS the sort of thing that only comes around once every 175 years.

On a dark, haunted night, a Russian oligarch dares a circle of international chefs to play the samurai game of 100 Candles--where each storyteller spins a terrifying tale of ghosts, demons and unspeakable beings--and prays to survive the challenge.

Inspired by the Japanese Edo period game of Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai, Hungry Ghosts reimagines the classic stories of yokai, yorei, and obake, all tainted with the common thread of food.

First course: With bad consequence, a ramen chef refuses to help a beggar, and a band of pirates get more (and less) than they were bargaining for after their encounter with a drowning woman turns ghastly.

Hungry Ghosts is cooked up by the infamous author and chef, Anthony Bourdain (Kitchen Confidential, Emmy-Award winning TV star of Parts Unknown) and acclaimed novelist Joel Rose (Kill, Kill, Faster, Faster, back again from their New York Times #1 best seller, Get Jiro!). Joining them this issue are stellar artists Alberto Ponticelli and Vanesa Del Rey, with amazing color by Jose Villarrubia, and a drop-dead cover by Paul Pope

Do you think the elves in Santa’s workshop use their darkvision to be able to continue making toys throughout the night? You know, that combined with the trance thing probably makes for crazy working conditions. You think they’ve unionized? Santa should probably make sure the only bows in the workshop are the gift wrap variety because they’re all proficient with the other kind.

We’ve teamed up with the geniuses at Despair, Inc. again to bring you a totally demotivating and hilarious calendar. You’ll get a different Demotivator each month (see below) as well as important dates in geek history. Impress your friends with your geeky trivia knowledge! Never forget Talk Like A Pirate Day again! Send @neilhimself a Happy Birthday tweet right on time! The superpowers you will gain from having this calendar cannot possibly fit in one paragraph. Keep it for yourself or give it to that geek in your life who has everything but still finds stuff to complain about. (They’ll love it but pretend to hate it. That’s just how they roll.)

The image of all those floating candles in the Great Hall at Hogwarts is a memorable one. We like the books, too, but we’re very glad the movies exist if just to burn that breathtaking picture into our minds.